While we already knew that the 2014 football World Cup was to be produced and broadcast in 4K, thanks to a tie-up between Sony and FIFA, the BBC has announced its very own Ultra HD (UHD) plans for the tournament.

Unlike Sony’s efforts, which will receive some public exposure, the BBC’s endeavors will be entirely closed trials. The broadcaster’s Research & Development arm will cover three games from the Maracanã stadium in Rio – a last 16 match, a quarter-final game and the final itself. It will work with research partner, Arqiva, consumer electronics companies and other technology providers, as it explores the mechanisms of delivering live UHD content across both broadcast and broadband networks simultaneously.

During the London Olympics in 2013, the BBC embarked on a number of Super Hi-Vision trials, with a handful of locations across the UK broadcasting events in 8K to the public – however this technology isn’t expected to be widely available until at least 2020.